PRODUCE OF NIGERIA
Nigeria produces a wide range of agricultural commodities, which could serve as raw materials for industrial production in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Top on the list of agricultural commodities in Nigeria are Cocoa, Cotton, Soya beans, Sorghum, Maize, Cassava, Gum Arabic, Ginger, Sesame Seeds, Sheanuts,Rubber,Acha,Oilpalm, Cashew nuts and Cowpea.

While the tree crops such as cocoa and cashew are produced in the southern pan of the country, cereal crops such as soya beans, sorghum, maize, sesame seeds and cowpea are produced in the savannah belt in Nigeria. Also produced in the savannah belt are ginger, gum Arabic and sheanuts.

With the Nigerian Government's current efforts at increasing output in the agricultural sector, more volumes of agricultural produce are available for external trade.:bowtie:
Below is synopsis of the production areas and uses of the some agricultural products of Nigeria.

Soybean

Soybean (Glycine Max) is a legume which is produced in the middle belt of the country of which Benue State is the largest producer in Nigeria. It produces about 48% of the total natural output of 352,000 metric tonnes per annum.

Soybean is an important source of high quality and inexpensive protein and oil. With an average protein content of 40% and oil content of 20%, soybean has the highest protein content of all food crops and is second only to groundnuts in terms of oil content amongst food legumes.

The oil produced from soybean is highly digestible and contains no cholesterol. Soybean is the largest single source of edible oil and accounts for roughly 50% of the total seed oil production worldwide. Nigeria has only one variety of soybeans which is yellow in colour.

Soybeans is used for production of milk, edible oil and animal feeds. It is also useful in the treatment of malnourished children particularly in the sub-Saharan, Asian and Latin American countries.



Cocoa

Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) is the second major non-oil foreign exchange earner in Nigeria after leather. It is produced in 16 states of the federation namely Ondo, Cross River, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Abia, Kwara, Ebonyi, Rivers, Taraba and Adamawa with an annual production of 500,000 metric tones however 98% of this is exported. It provides means of livelihood, sustenance and employment opportunities to over five million Nigerians, In the year 2006 alone, export revenue from the sale of cocoa amounted to US$236.7 million.

Nigeria along with Cote d'lvoire and Ghana all in West Africa, account for about 70% of the world's cocoa production.

Major market destinations for Nigeria's Cocoa are: Netherlands, U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, USA and Japan. Other markets being explored are the emerging economic powers of China and India. Stakeholders in the cocoa sub-sector in Nigeria are: Stanmark Nigeria Ltd, Olam Nigeria Ltd, Export logistics Ltd, Nivik Investments Ltd and Multitrex investments Limited.



Cotton

Cotton (Gossypium) is a major agricultural and industrial crop in Nigeria, providing employment and means of livelihood to about 2 million Nigerian families. A total of 24 states of the Federation produce cotton namely: Katsina, Zamfara, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Borno, Adamawa, Kwara, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Ekiti, Oyo, Ondo, Osun and Ogun. The average annual production is about 250,000 metric tonnes against a total world production of 20.5 million metric tones.

Major market destinations for Nigeria's cotton are the EU, China, South Korea and Taiwan.

Major stakeholders in the cotton sector in Nigeria are: Olam Nigeria Ltd, Nigeria Seed Cotton Ltd, West African Cotton Processing Company, National Seed Service and AFCOT Nigeria Ltd.

The crop has occupied a strategic position in the economic activities of Nigeria, providing both food and fibre for the rapidly expanding vegetable oil a industries in the country. Thus unlike cocoa, cotton has a strong backward linkage with domestic industries which consume up to 50% of the total annual production.



Cassava

Cassava (Manihort Esculentus (Euphorbiacea)) is grown in all the states of the Federation with the current production level being about 45 million metric tonnes per annum; a figure expected to double by 2020. Nigeria is the leading cassava producer in the world, producing a third more than Brazil and almost double the production capacity of Thailand and Indonesia. Although it is the world leader in cassava production, 90% of the annual production in Nigeria is targeted for the domestic food market.

The Nigerian Presidential Initiative on Cassava, which was launched in 2003, brought cassava and its potentials to the national limelight. This initiative created tremendous market opportunities both at home and abroad. There is now increased use of cassava as industrial raw material by feed mills, starch producers, chips and pellets, ethanol, glucose syrup as well as cassava four for bread making.

The business opportunities created has led to increased local investments in the cassava processing industry such as the Cassava Glucose Syrup Factory which when commissioned would require 132,000 metric tonnes of fresh cassava tubers annually to produce 26,000 metric tonnes of glucose syrup. There is also the Cassava processing factories for flour, and starch in various pads of the country.
Nigeria is to earn about US$12 billion per annum from cassava and its bye-products. Cassava has the potential to further industrialize more than any other product if its potentials are properly harnessed, cassava will not only be a white gold but an alternative to oil as a non-oil foreign exchange earner and a key instrument for job creation and catalyst for development.



Gum Arabic

Gum Arabic (Acacia Senegal) is grown in the Sahelian zone of the country, covering 14 States of the Federation namely Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Plateau, Adamawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Zamfara, Nasarawa and Niger with an estimated population of 4 million Nigerians engaged in its cultivation and trade. Gum Arabic is a natural gum that exudes from the exterior of Acacia trees in the form of dry, hard nodules. There are over 1,100 Acacia species worldwide. However Acacia Senegal and Acacia Seyal are the most commercially exploited species. Nigeria has three grades of Gum Arabic, Acacia Senegal (grade 1) Acacia seyal (Grade 2)and Combretum (Grade 3).
The major Acacia utilized for commercial Gum Arabic production in Nigeria are Acacia Senegal and Acacia seyal.

Nigeria is the 2nd largest producer of the crop in the world after Sudan with average production of 20,000 metric tonnes of all grades of Gum Arabic. In the year 2004, world production of Gum Arabic was put at 70,000 metric tonnes while Nigeria's production amounted to 18,935 metric tonnes with export earning of US$88.08 million, Due to the ability of the Gum Arabic tree to withstand adverse environmental conditions, it has become a potent weapon in the continued fight against desertification and environmental degradation in the Sahelian belt of the country.

Gum Arabic is used as thickener, suspender, emulsifier, stabilizer, flavour carrier, binder and encapsulating material. In addition, it is used in confectionaries, food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and chemical industries. Major markets for the product are: Belgium, China, USA, U.K and Japan.

To sustain the supply of Gum Arabic to both local and international markets, efforts are being made to establish a Gum Arabic Security Stock in the three leading producing countries (Sudan, Nigeria and Chad) with the support of the GAO, Network for Natural Gums and Resins in Africa (NGARA) and Association of International Producers of Gum Arabic (AIPG). This will lead to rapid development of natural gum as a national resource for fighting poverty, desertification and environmental degradation.

The National strategy for Gum Arabic is to encourage local value addition through increased local processing in order to attract better returns on investments. This is more so considering the fact that for every one kilogramme of processed Gum Arabic there is value added of US$5.00. Thus, apart from providing more income, local processing creates job opportunities thereby empowering our people.


Ginger

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) is produced in six states of the Federation namely, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger and Gombe with Kaduna as the major producer. Nigeria's production in 2006 was estimated at 180,000 metric tonnes (FAO). Out of this, 10% is locally consumed as fresh ginger while 90% is dried primarily for the export markets.

The commodity is highly valued in international markets for its aroma, pungency and high oil and Aleo resin content. Nigeria is the third largest exporter of ginger in the world after China and India.
Ginger is an important Nigerian export crop. The major market destinations are the UK, USA, Japan, Canada, Belgium, Germany and the Middle East.

The major stakeholders are Belphins Nigeria Limited, Goldchains International and Olam Nigeria Limited.



Sesame Seed

Sesame seeds (sesamum indicum) belong to the plant family Pedaliaceae. it is an important oilseed crop believed to have originated from tropical Africa. 25% of world sesame seed hecterage is planted in Africa and Nigeria is one of the major producers of sesame seed in Africa. It is found predominantly in Benue and Jigawa States in Northern Nigeria. It is one of the oldest food and cash crop in Nigeria which is produced in 21 states of the Federation. The commodity ranks second to cocoa in terms of volume of export and foreign exchange earnings. Global production in 2005 was put at 2.4 million metric tonnes with China and India as leading producers. Nigeria is the 5th largest producer of the commodity in the world with an estimated production of 120,000 metric tones annually.

Global export for the commodity amounted to 900,000 metric tonnes while Nigeria exports about 80,000 metric tonnes annually valued at US$68.0 million. Major market destinations for Nigeria's sesame seed are: Japan, EU, Korea, China, Turkey and the Middle East.

Sesame seed is used for oil, roasted seed, soup, spice, seed, confectionary, industrial raw material for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics soap etc.



Sheanut

The shea tree (Butyrospermum Parkii) is a precious natural resource which grows in the wild across the Sudan-Sahelian region of Africa. The major producing countries are: Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Uganda, Mali, Burkina Faso and Central African Republic. Nigeria is currently the leading producer of sheanut in the world and in 2004 Nigeria's production of the commodity was 414,000 metric tonnes with export value of US$61.04 million (Source: FAO).

Apart from its role as an important raw material shea butter is used in the manufacture of chocolate and other confectioneries. It is also used in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Major destinations for Nigeria's sheanut are the EU and Japan while for the shea butter are Asia, Europe and the Americas.



Cashew
Cashew (Anacardium Occidentale) is produced in 28 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In 2004, Nigeria's production of cashew amounted to 60,660 tonnes out of which, 30,510 tonnes were exported at a value of US$22.27 million. With the present emphasis of the Nigerian Administration on the development of non-oil export programmes, cashew industry is experiencing a major turn around.

Major stakeholders in the cashew industry in Nigeria are; Cocoa Research institute of Nigeria (CRlN) Cashew Association of Nigeria (CAN), Olam Nigeria Ltd. Safari Trade Ltd Abdulson Nigeria Ltd Fagro Venture Nigeria Ltd Asia Commodities Nigeria Ltd, Century Export Ltd, LMB O'sea Nigeria Ltd and Seacon Nigeria Ltd.

The main export destination for Nigeria's cashew is India. Others are Vietnam, South Africa, U.K. and USA.



Other Produce

Other produce are Maize Accha (Digitaria exilis), Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), Maize (Zea Mays) Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor (L) Moench). Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor (L) Moench). These crops are grown in the savannah regions of Nigeria. They each have two varieties, white and yellow, although Accha is white and brown.

(i) Maize (Zea Mays) is grown in all parts of the country as it is a versatile crop that grows across a range of agro-ecological zones, though it is grown slightly more in the Northern pad of the country. Two types of maize are grown in Nigeria Yellow and White. Maize apart from being eaten as it is on the cob, is used as food in form of porridges Corn fakes and popped grains. However, more than 60% of Nigeria's production of maize is consumed by the industrial sector for production of flour, beer, malt drink, corn flakes, starch, syrup, dextrose and animal feeds.

(ii) Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor (L) Moench) is a grass of East African origin, which is grown in the North of Nigeria. Sorghum is the 4th important cereal after wheat, rice and maize and is used as a maize substitute for livestock feeds because of their similar nutritional values. It is also used for distilled beverages, Condiments, ethanol and alcoholic beverages.

(iii) Accha (Digitaria exilis) is grown in the Central and North Eastern parts of Nigeria. It is consumed mainly as a cereal. The grain tastes similar to rice. It may be consumed directly, cooked in porridges and four creams similar to grits and wheat cream.

FROM:http://www.nigeriaembassy.cn/
FEEL FREE TO POST ANY NON-OIL ECONOMIC TOPICS HERE!!

!:):cool:

Nigeria Exports Shrimps Worth $65m still on the rise

Former Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Bamidele Dada, has said Nigeria exported shrimps worth more than $65 million in 2006.
Dada told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, that the country also exported ornamental fish and added that Nigerian shrimps were in high demand in Europe and America.
He said revenue from the fishery sub-sector will rise sharply, as some neighbouring countries including Chad , Benin Republic and Cameroon depended on the country's products.
He stressed the need to boost fish production to meet the protein needs of the population, adding that "there is a gap between supply and demand, so we need to double our efforts in marine production, as well as in fish farming.
"The recent development in both marine and aqua culture will enhance the target date set by Mr President, to achieve self-sufficiency in fish production. :cheers:

Nigeria's Cocoa Exports Doubled
By Dulue Mbachu

Aug. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Cocoa exports from Nigeria, the world's fourth-biggest producer of the chocolate ingredient, doubled in the second quarter as government incentives boosted production, the Federal Produce Inspection Agency said.

Shipments climbed to 18,743 metric tons between April and June, from 9,110 tons in the same period a year earlier, the Lagos-based FPIA said in a statement today. The data represents beans officially inspected and certified fit for export and don't take into account cocoa smuggled out of the country, the agency said.

``The increase is due to harvests coming in from new farms set up in recent years by farmers who want to take advantage of rising cocoa prices,'' Adekunle Adebambo, an agronomist with the government-run agency, said in a telephone interview.

Nigeria ranks behind Ivory Coast, brasil and Indonesia as the world's largest cocoa producer, according to the Web site of the International Cocoa Organization. The government has boosted cocoa production by providing farms with quick-maturing seedlings and fertilizers at subsidized prices since 2005, while improved farming methods have also helped.

Exports are usually at their lowest in the second quarter, when the smaller of two annual harvests is in season, Adebambo said. The main-crop harvest runs from September through December.

Nigeria's first-half cocoa exports totaled 90,447 tons, 37 percent more than a year earlier, the FPIA data showed. Last year, exports from the West African country rose to 140,148 tons, from 130,074 tons in 2006.

Production this year is forecast to rise to 173,000 tons, from 160,000 tons in the previous season, according to the International Cocoa Organization. :cheers:

Great news.

Now this is the best news in this Nigerian forum. It shows that finally the Naija government has managed to get its priorities back on track for the journey of securing the nations future stability and continuous economic growth. Agricultural security is extremely important to a nations survival. Relentless investment in the agricultural industry is non-negotiable; it must be done. Before anything, the government NEEDED to get that nations once supreme, world class agricultural industry in which it let crumble to crap over the past oil boom years.. back on its feet and running as it once was. Oil exports out of Naija have no business obtaining more profit than agricultural exports taking into consideration the continent it exists on.

Nigerian Model To Drive Africa's Banana Progress
By Onche Odeh , Senior Correspondent (Reporting From Mombassa, Kenya)

Africa is looking at ways of achieving remarkable success in banana production, processing and commercialisation with the hope that it would become one of the continent's biggest foreign exchange earners.

To achieve this, experts and stakeholders across various countries in the region have been asked to look at the model used by Nigeria to turn-around the status of Cassava as a orman's crop to a big money earner for farmers and the government.
Director General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Peter Hartman, told participants at the ongoing Pan-Africa conference on Banana at Mombassa, Kenya, that the Nigerian model provides a good example of how a crop could be made to become an important economic driver.
He said experts and stakeholders in agriculture should be thinking of how to evolve a collection of strategies that could unlock the huge potential of bananas across the continent.

The cassava initiative of the Federal Government of Nigeria has become a reference point at the ongoing banana conference where participants are expected to come out with a 10-year strategy to situate banana as a big cash crop for Africa.

Hartman confirmed to Daily Independent in an interview that the model used by Nigeria to improve its cassava potential is worth being exported to other countries in Africa.

"It took the special attention of the then president (Olusegun Obasanjo) to achieve this, although we had problems changing the people's perception of the crop," Hartman said.

The presidential Initiative on Cassava was an idea conceived by the immediate past government of Nigeria to give cassava production a facelift. This is aimed at creating value for the crop and farmers.

No fewer than 400 scientists and stakeholders are currently gathered in Mombasa.

Participants are intent on transforming smallholder banana production in Africa by linking farmers to regional and global markets, which represent billions of dollars each year in banana purchases.

Chief among what they would be looking for are means of reducing wastages, processing and banana market expansion.
FT

Doors open for Zimbabwe farmers




Harare - More than 20 African countries are trying to recruit Zimbabwean farmers to come and help them develop commercial agriculture in their countries.
This comes after land reform caused a food crisis in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe is no longer able to feed its people and about 4.3m people are in danger of starving.

A report by the Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) points out that the success stories of the projects run by Zimbabwean farmers in Nigeria have caused a number of African governments to sit up and take note.Similar projects launched.

"These projects have opened many doors and will continue to open doors in other countries. Private companies and government departments are very interested to launch similar projects," the report explains.

Countries that have already expressed interest and are negotiating with the CFU include Ghana, Cameroon, Sudan, Benin, the Central African Republic and Namibia.

The CFU says a team is already launching a similar project in Senegal.

"We have been to Senegal three times and we are gathering suggestions. All the parties involved are very positive about the project."

Alan Jack, leader of the group who now lives in Nigeria, said up to 23 African countries have already approached his office with suggestions after 15 farmers and their families moved to the Kwara province of Nigeria.

Most of the farmers fled to Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and Uganda. The Zimbabwean government is still clamping down on white farmers.

Farmers claim proposed changes to the country's legislation would nationalize all land. Doug Taylor-Freeme, CFU president, says it is frightening that parliament will not even be allowed to debate the proposed changes to the constitution.

"Since nearly every white farmer has been identified (for land reform) in some way or another, it is clear that ethnic cleansing is taking place here," he adds.

Barnabas Thondhlana - News24 :):)

This is great news! There's not one excuse good enough to explain why Nigeria doesn't have the largest farming operation in Africa.

Nigeria: Kwara Agriculture Gets U.S. Support





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Daily Trust (Abuja)

28 September 2008
Posted to the web 29 September 2008

Mustafa Abubakar
Ilorin

The United States of America (USA)'s Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Rence Sanders has pledged the assistance of her country to Kwara State to boost commercial and small scale agricultural production.

Ambassador Sanders made the pledge during her visit to Shonga Dairy Factory and Plantations under the care of New Nigerian Farmers in Edu Local Government Area.


She said the assistance would be in form of technical and financial support and will be done through her country's Commercial and Agriculture Office. She urged the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to liaise with US Commercial and Agriculture Attaches in Nigeria to work out modalities for the aid.

Conducting the Ambassador round the farms and factory, leader of the New Nigerian Farmers, Mr Alan Jack disclosed that their next focus would be on ethanol production with the use of sugarcane, adding that the Federal Government had agreed to bankroll 40 percent of the cost "once we come up with a decent proposal."

Jack said an irrigation project from the River Niger is in the pipeline, while efforts are also geared towards a large scale poultry farm.

Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki reiterated his administration's preparedness to partner with the United States in such areas as education, agriculture and health.
NICE GOING:)

Nigeria: Inside Kano's Leading Dairy and Poultry Farm



Daily Trust (Abuja)

Hassan A. Karofi
Kano

Modern dairy farming has in recent times received attention as more farmers now venture into big time dairy farming thereby enhancing the nation's capacity for both meat production and milk processing, Hassan A Karofi reports on how L&Z, a leading dairy farm in Kano, braces up to the challenges of dairy farming in the state.

Situated along kilometre 12 on the Kano-Kaduna highway, this sprawling dairy farm that began from a humble start is now a fully integrated farm that has several sections of cow breeding, poultry farming; poultry feed and satchet water production.


It started with N250.000 some few years ago, ac-cording to the chairman of the farm, a former banker and currently the Secretary General of the Breeders Association of Nigeria, as well chairman of the Kano state Poultry Farmers Association, Alhaji M.D. Abubakar. Within the span of 10 years, the farm has not only carved a niche for itself, but has grown to become one of the biggest poultry farms in Kano state, and also a leading dairy farm with improved bulls that produces one of the best fresh milk in the state. The L&Z fresh milk as well as yoghurt is produced locally by the company and is currently one of the best brand names in the milk production in the state. With thousands of various classes of chickens, the farm has grown to one of the biggest suppliers of poultry to the entire state.

Kwara set to build on agricultural revolution
TradeInvestNigeria Staff
http://www.tradeinvestnigeria.com/cm_pics/news/2459-0-0-0_1407272.jpg

The government of Kwara State has identified agriculture as an essential tool for fighting the problems of poverty and unemployment and ensuring food security. Agriculture also has the capacity to effectively bring about sustainable rural transformation and improvement in the general well being of the people.

The principal cash crops in Kwara State are cotton, cocoa, coffee, kolanuts, tobacco leaves, beniseed and palm produce. Agricultural institutes located in the state are the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization and the Niger River Basin Development Authority, all located in Ilorin. The agricultural research project of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife at Balla provides farmers with vital information on modern agricultural techniques. The Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Agricultural Development Project (ADP) provide both the infrastructural and storage facilities. All of these have helped to improve and boost agricultural production and services in the state

The state projects that its investment in dairy production will yield up to 5-million litres of milk per annum and will take care of domestic needs which are currently characterised by shortfalls, high prevailing prices, and the importation of up to 98% of domestic consumption. At present Nigeria imports 48 000 tonnes of dry whole milk, 30 000 tonnes of evaporated milk, and 16 000 tonnes of dry skimmed milk every year. This projected growth in dairy output in Kwara State will generate a potential US$21-million saving in foreign exchange outflow.

Quite significantly, it is projected the Zimbabwean farmers, who started with commercial agriculture in state, would be cash-positive in poultry and dairy in the first three years. It is anticipated that total agricultural output will increase substantially over a five year period as production expands and the impact of improved farming methods and techniques are disseminated to the smallholder population through a planned agricultural extension programme.

In employment terms, it is projected that direct employment per annum based on a target of 15 000ha of production would be 4 000 labour days in dairy (rising to 40 000), 1 560 labour days in poultry, and 2 000 labour days in rice. While these estimates reflect direct on-farm employment, a substantially larger number of jobs will be generated in downstream activities such as processing, transport, wholesale and retail.

The state intends to replicate the success recorded in Asia with the philosophy of "small is beautiful", by establishing small production and processing units for poultry, especially frozen chicken, dairy products, fruits and tomatoes, cassava, cashew and sugar cane. With less than US$8 000 a sugar processing plant with 95% local content and a capacity to produce up to 90 tonnes per annum could be established. Nigeria produces about 120 000 tonnes of cassava annually, out of which 5 000 tonnes have been billed for export to China. The country hopes to realise N5-billion (US$38-million) from cassava export every year. To promote this scheme, the federal government is providing US$35-million dollars through the Nigerian Export Import Bank to boost the production of cassava chips. The current administration would be hoping to take advantage of this by establishing cassava chipping centers in various parts of the state to support local farmers, especially women.

Kwara's Farmers Set For Milk Production
By Fabian Odum

IN a step that puts the footing of Shonga Farms in Kwara State beyond doubt, the first 88 out of an expected 540 cows, of the breed known as Jersey, arrived Ilorin International Airport at the weekend on board Air Cargo aircraft in a direct flight from South Africa.

From this delivery date until May 8, cargo flights to Ilorin will be on a regular basis until the number expected is completed.

The high milk-yielding heifers are part of the animal capital needed to get the ultra modern dairy factory at the farm - a commercial venture jointly owned by Kwara State Government and the Zimbabwean farmers- running its production lines.

State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who was present to take delivery of the livestock, described the event as a dream come true -a result of seizing opportunity and capitalizing on professionals with skills, technology and experience, as he referred to the white farmers now in the state.

The Governor, who noted that the nation was spending billions of naira annually on importation of milk powder from Europe, said it was time the country looked inward to its own production now that food prices are rising globally.

He said the staff of the factory will be employed locally, while the Agriculture Training School at Malete will benefit from technological training of various forms at Shonga.

Being a pace setter in matters of agriculture, Dr. Saraki revealed that a federal government team would be visiting the state late May or early June, 2008, on a tour of the farm.
The Coordinator of the farmers, Mr. Alan Jack said he was quite pleased at the long awaited delivery of the heifers. He said that a quarantine period of 60 days is required for the animals, after which milking and milk processing would commence. He said about 400 employees of various qualifications and technical skills would be required.